Pembroke Pines is best for C.B. Smith Park, Chapel Trail wetlands, open-air dining, local art, and nearby Fort Lauderdale tours.
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
A good day in South Florida can fall flat if you treat Pembroke Pines like a beach town. The best things to do in Pembroke Pines are inland: a 299-acre county park, a wetland boardwalk, open-air restaurants, city-run arts spaces, and event nights that work better than a long drive east.
Pembroke Pines sits between Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and the Everglades, so the city works well for families, sports days, shopping breaks, and low-stress nights out. Plan around heat and afternoon storms from late spring through early fall, then save the coast for a separate beach day.
Paid sightseeing is thinner inside Pembroke Pines than in the coastal cities. If you want a guided boat, food, or Everglades-style outing after your park day, nearby Fort Lauderdale has a deeper set of options:
Best Things To Do Around Pembroke Pines: Where To Start
Pembroke Pines is strongest when you combine one outdoor anchor with one easy indoor or evening stop. C.B. Smith Park, Chapel Trail Park Nature Preserve, The Shops at Pembroke Gardens, and City Center events cover most visitor plans without a packed schedule.
The table below is the cleanest way to choose. Pick C.B. Smith Park for a full family day, Chapel Trail for wildlife and a quiet walk, and Pembroke Gardens for dinner without fighting beach traffic.
| Experience | Type | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| C.B. Smith Park | Free park, paid extras | Water play, picnics, sports, camping |
| C.B. Smith water park | Seasonal paid attraction | Kids, slides, lazy-river time |
| Chapel Trail Park Nature Preserve | Free nature stop | Birding, boardwalk walks, photos |
| The Shops at Pembroke Gardens | Open-air dining and shopping | Date nights, group dinners, casual browsing |
| The Frank C. Ortis Art Gallery | Arts and culture | Rotating exhibits, workshops, rainy-day plans |
| Studio 18 Art Complex | Artist studios and gallery space | Local art, small exhibitions, creative classes |
| Charles F. Dodge City Center | Events venue | Concerts, festivals, shows, civic events |
| AllGolf at C.B. Smith Park | Paid sports facility | Driving range, mini-golf, batting cages |
Spend Half A Day At C.B. Smith Park
C.B. Smith Park is the easiest first stop because it handles several trip styles in one place. C.B. Smith Park’s current site lists 299 acres, trails, picnic areas, sports facilities, a campground, the C.B. Smith water park, and AllGolf at C.B. Smith Park.
Families usually come for the water park when it is open, then stay for shaded picnic time. Active travelers can use the courts, walking paths, batting cages, mini-golf, or the golf range without turning the day into a long drive across Broward County. AllGolf’s current facility notes list 50 artificial-grass hitting stations, two 18-hole miniature golf courses, and 9 batting cages.
Good plan: arrive in the morning, use the park before the heat builds, then move to Pembroke Gardens or City Center for dinner.
Walk The Boardwalk At Chapel Trail Park Nature Preserve
Chapel Trail Park Nature Preserve is the most nature-focused stop in Pembroke Pines. The official Chapel Trail Park Nature Preserve page lists 450 acres, a 1,650-foot boardwalk, and wildlife that includes 120 bird species, deer, turtles, alligators, and marsh rabbits.
Go early for cooler air and better bird activity. The boardwalk is the main reason to visit, since it gives you an Everglades-feeling wetland view without committing to a far longer park trip west.
Canoe rentals are listed as suspended until further notice, so do not build your whole plan around paddling. Treat Chapel Trail as a walk, wildlife stop, and photo break unless the city posts a rental update.
Shop And Eat Outside At The Shops At Pembroke Gardens
The Shops at Pembroke Gardens is the easiest place to turn a light sightseeing day into dinner. The center’s visitor information describes an open-air layout with patio dining, stores, and room to walk between stops without feeling like you are in a closed mall.
Pembroke Gardens works best after C.B. Smith Park or Chapel Trail, when you want air-conditioning nearby but still want to stay outside between restaurants. It is also a safe choice when your group cannot agree on one activity, since some people can shop while others sit down for drinks or dessert.
Catch Art, Music, Or A City Center Event
Pembroke Pines has more city-run arts programming than many suburbs of its size. The Frank C. Ortis Art Gallery, Studio 18 Art Complex, Pembroke Pines Theatre of the Performing Arts, and Charles F. Dodge City Center give the city real rainy-day and evening options.
The City of Pembroke Pines 2026 events calendar includes recurring Beats and Bites dates, seasonal festivals, a July Dive-In Movie, the Hispanic Heritage Festival, Boo-Ville, the Pembroke Pines Festival of the Arts, and SnowFest. Event dates change by year, so check the city calendar before building a trip around one night.
- Choose The Frank C. Ortis Art Gallery for exhibits and workshops.
- Choose Charles F. Dodge City Center for bigger ticketed shows and conventions.
- Choose city festivals when you want a local crowd instead of a tourist strip.
How Many Days Do You Need In Pembroke Pines?
One full day is enough for the main Pembroke Pines visitor stops. Two days make sense if you are using the city as a base for Fort Lauderdale, Miami, the Everglades edge, or a family visit nearby.
A one-day plan should not chase every attraction. Pair C.B. Smith Park with Pembroke Gardens, or pair Chapel Trail with an art stop and a City Center event.
A two-day plan gives you room for a slow morning, a water-park block if the C.B. Smith water park is open, and a half-day trip east toward Fort Lauderdale. Pembroke Pines is better as a relaxed Broward base than as a nonstop sightseeing city.
Do You Need A Car In Pembroke Pines?
A car makes Pembroke Pines much easier because the strongest stops are spread across the city and nearby Broward County. Rideshares work for short hops, but costs add up if you are linking parks, dining areas, hotels, and coastal side trips.
Drivers should expect suburban roads, parking lots, and traffic around shopping areas rather than a walkable downtown pattern. For the easiest spread-out day, compare car rental options before you lock in the rest of the plan:
Where To Stay For Easy Access
Pembroke Pines hotels work best near I-75, Pines Boulevard, City Center, or the western edge of town if you plan to split time between parks and South Florida day trips. Staying too far east can put you back into Fort Lauderdale traffic, while staying too far west may feel quiet at night.
Use a map view if you care about being near C.B. Smith Park, Pembroke Gardens, or a City Center event:
One-Day Pembroke Pines Plan
The best one-day Pembroke Pines plan is simple: start outside, cool down indoors or over lunch, then end with food or an event. That shape fits the city better than trying to turn it into a beach-hopping route.
- Morning: walk Chapel Trail Park Nature Preserve or arrive early at C.B. Smith Park.
- Late morning: add the C.B. Smith water park if it is open, or play mini-golf and batting cages at AllGolf.
- Lunch: head to The Shops at Pembroke Gardens for a low-effort meal.
- Afternoon: visit The Frank C. Ortis Art Gallery or Studio 18 Art Complex if you want a cooler, quieter stop.
- Evening: check Charles F. Dodge City Center or the city events calendar, then keep dinner nearby.
If you only have half a day, choose C.B. Smith Park for families and Chapel Trail for a quieter nature break. If rain is likely, shift the plan toward The Frank, Studio 18, Pembroke Gardens, and a show or event.
References & Sources
- City of Pembroke Pines.“Chapel Trail Park Nature Preserve.”Confirms the preserve’s acreage, boardwalk length, wildlife notes, and canoe-rental status.